When Jin Liwei was ready to leave, the two stood in front of the private elevator, both unwilling to part from each other. They just became an official couple, after all. They wanted to spend more time with each other.
He couldn't stop a big smile from spreading on his handsome face because Iris was hugging him so tightly, showing him with her actions that she didn't want him to leave.
Kissing the top of her head, he murmured, "I don't want to leave you."
She sighed, and then reluctantly loosened her arms around his waist. She looked up at him. "It's alright. Your work is important. Just finish your own matters and then come back to me soon."
He lowered his head and kissed her gently on the lips. "I haven't left yet but I'm already missing you. So much."
"Me too."
He grinned and then his expression became stern. "Don't get too close to other men while I'm not around."
"Why would I? I already have you. You're the one who shouldn't get close to other women. I'll cut off your p*nis if you do."
He chuckled. "Baby, I never get close to women. Only you."
She smiled, but then tilted her head to the side, thinking of something. Then almost carelessly but with a sincere tone, she told him, "If you ever feel that you don't want me anymore or you meet another woman who you like more than me, just tell it to me straight. I'll feel angry but I'll try to understand. I'm not unreasonable. Just don't cheat on me behind my back. At least break it off cleanly with me before you start another relationship. Then I won't feel too hurt or hate you too much. I'll also do the same if ever I like another man more than I like you."
Iris tried to pull away, but his hold was too strong. "Stop!"
"Long Xiulan, do you know what you just said?" he hissed.
She felt alarmed seeing his vicious expression. She was reminded of the feeling of danger she felt from him the first time they met at the hotel lobby. In fact, he felt even more dangerous now.
"Don't say those things to me ever again! Do you understand?!"
"Liwei, I…" She was starting to feel panicked.
"You're mine, Long Xiulan. Only mine! I won't allow anyone, including you, to break us apart. Remember that!"
Then he smashed her against his chest and hugged her fiercely, as if wanting to forcibly fuse the two of them into one being. Then he sucked her exposed ear.
"Liwei! What are you doing?!"
His mouth moved downwards to the side of her neck and sucked hard, leaving a dark red love bite. He alternated between licking and sucking.
After marking her, he finally straightened and glared at her.
Her eyes watered. She didn't like this Jin Liwei.
Was what she said so wrong? She thought that she was just being mindful of their relationship and the problems that may arise if their attraction towards each other faded. Why was he so angry?
Then fury bubbled from inside her. How dare he treat her this way? How dare he claim her? She was her own person! Not anyone's possession!
She clenched her teeth and kneed him hard on the crotch.
He groaned and doubled over, falling on his knees to the floor. He then looked up at her in disbelief.
She wavered, instantly feeling sorry for hurting him, but the wet feeling on her ear and neck reminded her of how he treated her just a few seconds ago. She hardened her heart. "You deserve it," she told him.
He gasped and gently massaged his poor little brother down below. It wasn't injured, right? It would still work properly, right? He would still be able to put a baby in his Xiulan's belly in the future, right?
Iris began to worry when Jin Liwei didn't get up after a minute already passed. Did she knee him that hard? She began to feel guilty. "Uhm...are you okay?"
His look pissed her off. "What? You want me to knee you again? Come! This knee is still raring to go!"
They glared at each other.
Finally, he stood up slowly. He was breathing heavily, his expression completely black. Iris' expression wasn't any better either.
After glaring at each other some more, it was Jin Liwei who cracked first.
"I'm sorry..." he sighed. He still felt furious, but forced his tone to be gentle. "I lost control of myself. Xiulan, baby, you're the only woman for me. You're the only one I'll ever want. So I would never cheat on you. Trust me. And if I suddenly become crazy and stupid enough to cheat with some b*tch, I'll kill myself first. I'd rather die than taint myself with some other woman. I swear!"
She stared at his serious face, feeling his sincerity. "I don't want you to die," she whispered.
She had already experienced too much death in her previous lifetime, more than the average person. She didn't want to go through that again, especially with him who she already considered as an important person to her. Even if they came to a point that they weren't attracted to each other or weren't in a relationship any longer, she still wouldn't wish him dead.
He pulled her into a tight embrace. "Baby, we belong together. Remember that!"
She personally didn't believe in such words of finality because people's feelings change. Life was unpredictable. However, she still nodded at him because she could feel his sincerity at the moment. Whether or not his feelings would change in the future was something she only needed to deal with if it happened.
As for promises of forever with him…she wouldn't make. Because there was no such thing as forever.
Her previous life was a testament to this. Someone as powerful and formidable as her family who ruled the international Underworld for many generations was annihilated in just a single night.
Forever was just wishful thinking. It was better to enjoy the moment and try to live life to the fullest, so even when the good things ended, there wouldn't be any regrets.